Vending-machine for liquids.



B. P. RUGKER.

VENDING-MACHINE FOR LIQUIDS. APPLICATION FILED JN.10, 191s.

1,@75,%3 Patented 0ct.14,`1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

muuu/ull B. P. RUGKBR.

VBNDING MACHINE PoR LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10, 1913.

L. Patented 0011111913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3 SHEETS-SHBET 3.

Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

' B. P. RUCKER.

VENDING MACHINE FOR LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 1o, 191A connection with this hose mechanism I have' saranno orion.

BENJAMIN PARKS RUCKER, OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

VENDING-MACHINE FOR LIQUIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1 4, 19.13.

Application filed January 10, 1913. Serial No. 741,155.

To all whom it may concern A Be it known that I, BENJAMIN PAniis RUCKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Charlotte, county of Mecklenburg, State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Vending-Machine for Liquids, of which the following is a Specification.

Thisv invention relates to a machine for dispensing liquids and more particularly to a device for vending liquidv fuel to moto-i' vehicles, motor boats or the like and has for an object to provide an apparatus iii which the dispensing and regulating mechanism is iiiclosed and protected when not in use..

It has for a further object to provide an apparatus' which is simplev in constructionv and can be operated by anyone, subject to the carrying out of certain conditions, in

such a manner as to cause the delivery of al predetermined quantity of liquid.

It has for a further object to provide an extensible and self retrievable hose, that is, a hose which may at certain times be drawn out or `eiitended exterior of the apparatus in order'to connect with the receptacle for the liquid. and which automatically returns to inoperative position after the desired quantity of liquid has been discharged. In

devised a novel protecting means for the hose nozzle whereby the latter when in inoperative position is not exposed to dirt or dust and cannot be tampered with or injured..

It further consists of other novel features of construction, all as will bc hereinafter fully set forth.

"lz he subject-matter hereinafter claimed is independent of the coin control, which latter is merely illustrated'as one means of carrying out the invention, although no claim is made thereto herein.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown' in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is'at present preferred by me, since the same has been Afound in practice t-o give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of' which my' invention consists can be variously arrangedv and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and. organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a vertical section, in

side elevation, of the upper portion of a de-.

vice embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a similar section of the lower portion of the device. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section, in end elevation, of the uppei' portion of the device. Fig. 4 represents a section corresponding to Fig. 3 of the lower portion of the device. Fig. 5 represents a transverse section on line wof Fig. 1. Fig. 6 represents a transverse section on line 'z/-y Fig. 1. Fig. 7 represents a section of a portion of the device showing the liquid discharge nozzle in inoperative position. Fig. 8 represents a section on line .e-z of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 represents a detail of a portion of the trigger mechanism.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts inthe figures.

Referring to the drawings, referring to Figs. 2 and 4, 1 designates a liquid containing tank which in most instances of use is located beneath the ground and is proandthe said head a gasket 6 is interposed to prevent leakage at the joint formed at this point.

7 designates a pump suitably supported adjacent the bottom of thetank 1 and having a strainer screen 8 suitablypositioned so that the liquid passing through the inlet valves 9 and 10 is filtered of foreign sub stances before passing to the discharge oonduit 11 by way of one of the valves 12, as the case may be.

13 designates a suitable pipe which passes through the head 3 and, in the present instance, terminates at one end in a connection 14 by which the pump cylinder 7 is supported, and also preferably encircles the vided with suitable openings 17 through which the liquid enters the tank, and the inlet to the pipe 13- is suitably located within the casing 4 and adjacent a hand-hole cover 18'. In the present instance,` the branch pipe 19 of the fitting '2O forms the inlety for liquid and it is, as will he seen, suitably. positioned with respect to the cover 18 so that when the latter is removed liquid lmay be delivered to the inlet.' by a funnel or other' suitable mechanism.

21 designates a ioat member pivoted at 22 to the fitting 14 and connected at its opposite end to a stem 23 which is connected to a suitable indicating mechanism, presently. lto be described, and by -means of which the position of the float is shown .and consequently the quantity of liquid in the tank is made known. The opposite end of the stem 23, in thepresentinstance, is connected to a pointer lever 24, suitably pivoted at 25, and having one end adjacent a scale 26 on a suitable plate 27, While its opposite Wend is connected to a rod 28 terminating, adjacent a coin controlled device, in a suitable head 29, the function of Which will later be described. The scale 26, inthe present instance, is graduated in gallons and is calibrated from the position of the float 21.

Referring now to the mechanism for conveying the liquid from the pump discharge pipe 11 to the exterior of the casing 4, 30 Ldesignates a hose of suitable material preferably flexible, which is connected at one end to the o utlet 31. of the conduit 11, and passes in a series of convolutions to the outlet opening 32 where it terminates in a nozzle 33, which as here shown is bent at a suitable angle to rest substantially flush with acircumferential flange 34, which is preferably formed4 integral with the casing 4.. By this construction the nozzle 33, Iin operative position, hasV its outlet covered or pro tected by the iiange 34, so that dust, dirt and the like cannot collect in the end of thel nozzle and the nozzle is furthermore protected from injury. In connection with this nozzle it is noted that a lip, 35 is formed thereon by means of which the nozzle can be temporarily connected to a receptacle in which the liquid is to be delivered.

The hose 30 is arranged within' the easing 4 in such a manner that it can be extended tothe exterior of the casing 4 at the desired time and is of suilicient length to reach.

i tomatically return within the casing 4 to the position indicated in Fig. 1, that is,

withthe nozzle 33 within the protectingiange'34. This is accomplished by the fol-' lowing mechanism: 36 designates a pair of sheaves, serving as guide ,pulleys for the hose 30, mounted forrot-ation be Ween disks 37 which are provided with lugs 38 adapted to travel in suit-able guide-Ways the latter being ixed to the casing 4 in any well known" manner. It will thus ber lseen that lthe sheaves"` 36 are` suspended iby `the hose 30 and act asa .counterweight It will also bev to maintain thel hose entirely within' the' are rotatably mounted on a spindle 41 which is fixed to the casing 4 and therefore it Will be seen that these last mentioned sheaves not only guide the hose but also act as a fixed medium from which the weighted sheaves 36 are suspended by the hose 30. It will therefore be apparent that under the proper conditions the nozzle 33v may be grasped and thevhose 30 drawn out to the desired distance, the latter being determined by the length of the ways 39, and the number of turns made by the hose about the sheaves. In connection with the unreeling of thelhose it will be noted that I have provided a locking mechanism to prevent the said hose from being removed from the casing, except under certain conditions, and in the present instance, such mechanism comprises a pawl 42 suitably pivoted at 43 to the casing and adapted to seat Within a circumferential recess 44 preferably formed in the nozzle 33, so that when so located it will be obvious that the hose cannot be withdrawn. This pawl 42 is controlled by a coin controlled mechanism, to be presently described, and its release from locking positionis eiiected by an arm 45 connected at one end to the said pawl and at the opposite end to an angular trip finger 46 suitably pivoted at 47.

In the present form of embodiment of my invention, I have arranged the casingfin such a manner'as to form substantially two compartments, in one of which the sheaves and hose mechanisms are located, while the other contains the coin controlled mechanism and its adjuncts, either of which mechanisms being made readily accessible by suitable cover plates, the one being designated by the numeral 48 and the other bythe numeral 49. The plate 48, as here shown, .seats in asuit'- able recess 50 of the casing head while at its opposite extremity it is held to the casing by a detachable connection comprisingthe bolts 51 and wing nuts 52. The plate 49, in the present instance, is pivoted orv hinged at 53 to the casing 4, and is adapted to be locked over the coin mechanism' and coin receptacle by any suitable device for the purpose, which I have not deemed necessary to l here illustrate.

The pump/ rod 15 is connected at its upper end to` a link member 54 which isreeiprorated by a crank motion imparted by the crank pin 55, the latter being connected and traveling with the toothed wheel 56. The crank-pin 55 is in the nature of a stud bolt since it hasa threaded stem 57, carrying a nut 58, the said stem passing through a slot 59 of the wheel 56, and being made fast in proper position by clamping action between the head of the pin and the" said nut. The slot 59 is` preferably radially disposed of the normas wheel 56, and -of greater length than the diameter ofthe stem 57,-so that variation of the stroke of thel pump rod 15 may be effected bymoving the pin nearer to the center of the l Wheel thus making a shorter stroke or moving it away fromthe center to obtain a longerstroke. The wheel 56 is keyed or otherwise fixed to a spindle 60 having a bearing in a frame 61, carried by the casing 4, and projecting exterior of the said casing to receive the crank arm 62 to which the operating handle 63 is attached. Thus by rotating the arm 62 the wheel 56 will also be correspondingly rotated and transmit a reciprocating movement to the pump rodA 15. In this movement it Will be seen that it is necessary to provide a guide stem 64 which is secured to the link 54 and passesthrough a suit-able guide opening 65 in the frame 61 so that the pump rod 15 is caused to move with a straight line movement under the action of the link 54.

66 designates a p aWl suitably pivoted to the fr'ame 61 and engaging the tooth `portion of the wheel 56, whereby the latter is always locked against movement in the reverse direction.

In a device of this character, where the operation depends upon a coin controlled mechanism, it will be obvious that it is necessary to provide some means for preventing the operation of the pumping mechanism at times when no coin has been inserted in the machine. For this purpose I have, in the present instance, provided a lug 67, which is fixed to the Wheel 56 and adapted to Contact with a locking pawl 68, pivoted at 69 to the frame 61 and normally held against movement by a trigger 70 pivoted on 'a' spindle 71 of the frame 61 and also connected at 72 to the ratchet wheel 73. This ratchet wheel 73 is rotatably mounted on the spindle 71 and is under tension of a `spring 74 which serves substantially the function of a brake to regulate themovement in accordance with the laction of certain controlling adjuncts. One of these adjuncts embodles a pawl 75 which is secured to the locking pawl 68 and moves with it to effect a step by step movement of the ratchet Wheel 73 to return certain of the parts to their normal position, each step, in the present instance, representing one complete revolution of the Wheel 56. The pawl 75, as here shown, slides on a pin 76, which also maintains the pawl in proper relation to the teeth ofthe ratchet Wheel 73. r

77-designates a rack bar mounted for sliding movement Within a guide-way 78 on the frame 61 and preferably formed with a grooveor depression 79 adapted to receive the end o f the'tri 'finger-46. As before described,` the trip, nger 46 controls the locking;dcvice for the'hose and `when the said linger is located-within the said'groove 79,

the 'pawl 42 will be in locking engagement. with the hose but when the rack bar is shifted to raise the trip finger 46, the said pavvl will also be raised and the hose released The movement of the rack bar 77 which primarily controls the releasing of thelocking'mechanism is eected, in the present instance, by a coin carrying mechanism comprising a rod 80 slidingly mounted upon the frame 61 and terminating at one end in a button or knob 81, exterior of the casing, while attached to the other end is a coin carrier 82. This carrier 82 is provided at one side with an opening 83 through which the rack bar 77 may pass in order to come into engagement with a coin, should one be seated in either of the transverse grooves 84, 85

and 86'of the carrier 82, each groove beingv` of a size to receive a coin of predetermined denomination. The carrier 82 is preferably y apertured as shown at 87, the side walls 88 of Which converge from the rod-attached end, so that coins of small denomination can be used as well as coins of larger dimension. By this arrangement a coin of large denomination supported in thev groove 84 will contact with the rack bar 77 sooner than a coin of smaller denomination thereby giving a greater movement to the ratchet Wheel 73 than the smaller coin and the quantity of oil will thus be properly regulated.

89 designates a coin chute provided with suitable run-ways 90 for the coins, said' runways terminating at their inner ends respectively above the grooves of the carrier 82, while their outer ends aline respectively with openings 91 in the casing cover 49. In order to prevent coins being inserted at times when the tank is empty or the mechanism in operation, I provide a guard plate 92 pivoted at 93 adjacent the openings 91 and'having a vplurality of fingers 94 which are adapted to cover the openings 91 and prevent a coin entering the machine. One of these fingers 94 is preferably of sufiicient length to extend into the path of movement of a pin 95 secured to the carrier 82, so that -each time the said carrier is shifted to release the several locking mechanisms this finger v94 will also be moved and swing the guard plate 92 so that all the openings 91 are closed. In connection With this guard 92, it will be' noted that an aperturcd lug 96 is formed integral therewith through which the rod 28 may pass freely but does not permit the head 29 thereof to do so andthe latter acts therefore as an abutment toengage the guard and shift the same whenever the tank 1s empty or so nearly empty as to prevent the required quantity of liquid being delivered.

97 designates a bell crank lever pivoted'at 98 to the casing 4 and'carrying Yon one end a counterweight 99 While its opposite end their fuel tanks.

bears against a lug 100-on the rod 80, so

that the said rod and the carrier 82 are automatically returned to normal position.

After the coin has completed its function of operating the releasing mechanism, it is ejected from the carrier by means of an ejector arm 101 which, in the present instance, is fixedly secured to the pump rod 15 and projects beneath the aperture 87 ofthe carrier 82, so that when`the pump rod 15 is elevated, the ejector 101 passes through the carrier and ejects the coin into the coin receptacle 102, located adjacent to the coin mechanism.

In the operation of the device, the tank 1 is lled with liquid fuel, such as gasolene or the like, and the float 21 is thus raised sufficiently to bring the pointer 24 of the indicator 27 into position to show the number of gallons of the liquid contained within the tank 1.

The preferred location of the device is adjacent the curb of a street 'or the side of a roadway, so that motor vehicles can readily and easily stop beside the device and iill ln order to accomplish this a coin of the required denomination for a definite quantity of liquid is inserted within the proper coin chute and for the purposes of this explanation it will be assumed that a coin of the largest denomination for which the machine is adapted has been inserted within the correct one of the openings 91. The coin immediately drops by gravity along the chute 90 and seats itself in the carrier groove 84 and the machine is now set for the manual operations necessary to cause the liquid to be delivered to the required receptacle. The user ltherefore grasps the knob 81 and pulls the rod 80 outwardly, thereby moving the carrier 82, to the left as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, and bringing the coin into engagement or contact with the end of the rack bar 77. The latter is thus picked up by the movement of the carrier and travels with it simultaneously raising the trigger 46 'to release ythe hose locking pawl 42 and rotating the ratchet wheel 78. The rotation of the said wheel 73 causes the trigger 70 to move out of'engagement with the locking pawl 68 and therefore this pawl no longer acts as a fixed abutment to pre vent rotation of the toothed wheel 56. During the movement of the carrier the pin has shifted the guard finger 94 so that the guard itself has moved to cover the apertures for receiving the coin and consequently it is impossible to insert another c oin while the mechanism is in this position. The

' responding in value to the Vdenomination of the coin whichhas been inserted.A The opyeratqr'therefore releases the knob 81, which automatically returns under 'the action of the counterweight 99, and also brings the carrier 82 back to its normal position. Be`

fore starting the pumping operation the l part of the receptacle which is to receive the liquid.c This action raises the slidable sheaves 36 into close proximity to the fixed sheaves 40 so that a length of hose is released which is several times greater than the distance between the two sets of sheaves aforesaid. The hand crank 62 may now be turned freely transmitting a rotary movement to the wheel 56 and producing reciprocation of the pump rod 15 which forces the liquid, by means of the pumping element out of the tank 1 through the pipe 11 and by way of the hose 30 to the outside receptacle. The pump rod 15 in addition to actuating the pumping element performs another function, namely, that of raising the ejector 101, so that on the upward stroke of the said rod the ejector will, strike the coin in the carrier 82 and cause it to be ejected into the coin receptacle 102. The rotation of the toothed wheel 56 likewise has an additional function from that l already described, namely, to actuate and reset the mechanism for gauging the quantity of liquid delivered. Each time the wheel 56 co-mpletes a revolution, the pin 67 strikes the locking pawl 68 and causes it to swing on its pivot and move the ratchet pawl 75, so that the ratchet Wheel 73 is given a ste-p by stepmovement which not' only gradually returns the rack bar to its normal position but also brings the trigger 70 back to its original position. As soon as this latter operation. is effected, the pawl 68 is again fixed and further rotation of the wheel 56 and turning of the handle crank 62 is prevented. rlhis means that the quant-ity of liquid equivalent tc the value of the coin has been dispensed and no more liquid can be pumped or removed until another coin has been inserted and the several steps repeated.

As soon as the user of the apparatus has obtained all the liquid desired, the nozzle 38 is released from the receiving receptacle and the sheaves 36, serving as a countermweight drop by gravity thus retrieving or drawing the hose back into the casing and seating the refill the tanks it is only necessary to unlock the hand-hole cover 18, remove the same and supply liquid to the inlet 19.y It is just as simple to gain access to the coin receptacle 102, since the cover 49, after it has been unlocked, may be swung on its pivot 53 and the receptacle 102 removed from the interior of the casing.

It will novv be apparent that I have devised a complete unitary Structure, simple in construction, efficientA in operation and comprising novel features for the accurate and practical dispensing of liquid by an automatic vending apparatus.

Attention is particularly directed to the feature of providing a hose which in inoperative position is substantially entirely contained Within the casing of the apparatus but which may not only be extended to a practical and operative position exterior of the casing but after its use is self-retrievable and returns to its normal inoperative position automatically. v

It will further be noted that the quantity of liquid delivered from the apparatus is determined by the setting of the ratchet Wheel 73, this latter being dependent of course on the distance traveled by the rack bar 77 and the rack bar in turn is dependent for its movement on a coin in the carrier 82. Thus if a coin of small denomination is Within the groove 86 of the carrier 82, the latter will of course move some distance before the said coin picks up the rack bar 7 7 and therefore t-he effective stro-ke of the carrier, as transmitted to the rack bar, is materially shortened and a proportionately less amount of liquid can be pumped before the ratchet Wheel 7 3 returns to normal position.

It Will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction of a vending machine for liquids which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description and While I have, in the present instance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliablefresults, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

By omitting the paWl 42, the locking paWl 68 and the parts immediately associated therewith, the machine may be operated independently of the coid control, the mechanism involving this latter feature, however, forming the subject-matter of another application.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character stated, a liquid containing tank, a pumping element in said tank, a casing adjacent said tank, a hose contained Within said casing and adapted to be extended outside thereof, means con necting one end of said hose With the discharge of said pumping element, and means for maintaining said hose normally in inoperative position within said casing.

2. In a device of the character stated, a liquid containing tank, a pumping element in said tank, a casing adjacent said tank, a hose contained Within said casing and adapted to be extended outside thereof, means connecting one end of said hose with the discharge of said pumping element, and means fo-r automatically retrieving said hose after said hose has been dravvn to operative position.

3. In a device of the character stated, a. liquid containing tank, a pumping element in said tanli. a casing adjacent said tank, a fixed sheave rotatably mounted in said casing, a hose contained Within said casing passing over said sheave and adapted to be extended outside of said casing, means connecting one end of said hose with the discharge of said pumping element, and a member suspended. by said hose below said fixed sheave to normally maintain said hose in inoperative position within said casing by gravity.

4. In a device of thecharacter stated, a liquid containing tank, a pumping element in said tank, a casing adjacent said tank, a fixed sheave rotatably mounted in said casing, a hose contained Within said casing passing over said sheave and adapted to be extended outside of said casing, means connecting one end of said hose with the discharge of said pumping element, and a member suspended by said hose below said fixed sheave for automatically retrieving saidA hose by the action of gravity after said hose has been7 drawn to operative position.

5. In a device of the character stated, a casing, a hose contained within said casing and adapted to be extended outside thereof, a source of liquid supply, a pumping element for said supply, means connecting one end of said hose with the discharge of said pumping element, and means for automatically retrieving said hose after said hose has been drawn to operative position.

BENJAMIN PARKS RUCKER.

Witnesses:

J. E. DAVIS, E. ELLisoN. 

